Pista sa Kinaiyahan is a cultural and environmental festival in the municipality of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, Philippines every first week of April. The town also celebrates the Araw ng Sta. Cruz every October.
Etymology
Pista sa Kinaiyahan comes from the words pista, meaning feast, the preposition sa (of), and kinaiyahan, meaning nature. Taken together, it means the Festival for Nature or Festival for Mother Nature.
History of Pista sa Kinaiyahan
Pista sa Kinaiyahan was first held in 2001. This yearly event is meant to celebrate and promote environmental protection, awareness, and conservation. It is centered around calling for preserving Mt. Apo, the highest peak of the Philippines and a popular trekking destination, and for people to be stewards of nature.
The town of Sta. Cruz is one of the starting points of the climb towards Mt. Apo. The mountain is not only known for its beautiful scenery, lush woodlands, and challenging climb to its peak, it is also home to the waling-waling and the Philippine eagle.
The organization of this annual event is a coalition of public-private entities such as the municipal government of Sta. Cruz, Department of Tourism, mountaineers’ clubs and associations, military, law enforcement, provincial government of Davao del Sur, and many others. It was awarded Search for Best Tourism Practice (Festival – Municipal Level) by the Assocition of Tourism Officers of the Philippines (ATOP) in 2008.
Pista sa Kinaiyahan Activities
The annual fest attracts visitors and volunteers for its focus on environmental advocacy. Its popular event is the Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge, an international tourney where participants cover over 113 kilometers through cycling, trekking, water tubing, and running. Other events include ecotourism, exhibits of the local ecosystem featuring flora and fauna, clean-up drives, tree planting, etc.
How to reach Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur
Take a flight to Davao International Airport and take a land transport going to the municipality.
References
- Did you know? Sta. Cruz Tourism. November 19, 2019. Retrieved April 15, 2024
- Festivals & Events. Provincial Government of Davao. Retrieved April 15, 2024
- 3rd International Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge held in Davao. Official Gazette of the Philippines. May 17, 2013. Retrieved April 15, 2024
Pista sa Kinaiyahan Summary
Name Pista sa Kinaiyahan Celebration Environment, Nature Contact 0920 856 7991 Country Philippines Date First week of April Email tourism.stacruz@gmail.com Facebook www.facebook.com Location Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur Organizer Municipal Government of Sta. Cruz
| Name | Pista sa Kinaiyahan |
|---|---|
| Celebration | Environment, Nature |
| Contact | 0920 856 7991 |
| Country | Philippines |
| Date | First week of April |
| tourism.stacruz@gmail.com | |
| www.facebook.com | |
| Location | Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur |
| Organizer | Municipal Government of Sta. Cruz |